Funding Opportunities Upcoming Deadlines and Opportunities (October 2022)
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To see additional fellowships and award opportunities, visit the CURF Resources for Graduate Students and Grad Center Grants and Fellowships webpages. Additional individual & student funding and financial assistance can be found on our Graduate Funding & Finances page.
Funding and Professional Opportunities
WW Dissertation Fellowship in Women’s Studies
Deadline: October 14
W Women’s Studies Fellowships support the final year of dissertation writing for Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences whose work addresses topics of women and gender in interdisciplinary and original ways. The Women’s Studies competition is for projects in the humanities and social sciences; projects in fields such as management, the clinical and biological sciences, and law are not eligible unless they have a demonstrable academic grounding in the humanities and social sciences.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Deadline: October 17 - 21 (varies by field)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes and supports promising students in NSF-supported STEM and social science disciplines who are pursuing research-based graduate degrees. For information about applying for the NSF GRFP at Penn, visit: www.curf.upenn.edu/content/nsf.
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
Deadline: October 27
Prestigious national fellowship provides up to two years of support for graduate study for new Americans - permanent residents or naturalized citizens if born abroad; otherwise children of naturalized citizen parents - in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the US. Learn more about the application process and access the schedule for upcoming information sessions on applying for the fellowship at www.pdsoros.org/apply/information-sessions.
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships
Deadline: October 31
1-3 year fellowship awarded to applicants who will pursue a doctoral degree in, or closely related to, an area of DoD interest within one of their fifteen prioritized disciplines in science and engineering. Fellows receive full tuition & fees, a monthly stipend, and up to $1000 for medical insurance.
GAPSA-Provost Fellowship for Interdisciplinary Innovation
Deadline: October 31
Grants of up to $6000 to support original, student-derived initiatives that integrate knowledge across diverse academic disciplines. The fellowship is also meant to help the project leader(s) develop, pursue and complete their proposed interdisciplinary initiatives.
American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) Fellowship
Deadline: November 1
Fellowships (up to $23,000) and grants (up to $5,000) to individuals to pursue research, study or creative arts projects in one or more Scandinavian country for up to one year.
National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies Research Associateship Program (RAP)
Deadline: November 1
Graduate and postdoctoral research opportunities in science and technology at sponsoring federal laboratories and affiliated institutions.
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Fellowships and Grants
Deadline: November 1
Supports women scholars who are completing dissertations, planning research leave from accredited institutions, or preparing research for publication. Funds research in a variety of disciplines that helps to improve communities. Eligibility: Women PhD candidates in all fields of study
DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program
Deadline: November 9
Support for outstanding U.S. graduate students to pursue part of their graduate thesis research at a DOE laboratory/facility in areas that address scientific challenges central to the Office of Science mission. The research opportunity is expected to advance the graduate students’ overall doctoral thesis while providing access to the expertise, resources, and capabilities available at the DOE laboratories/facilities. Eligibility: PhD candidates in physics, chemistry, material sciences, biology (non-medical), mathematics, engineering, or computer or computational sciences who are at work on the dissertation
Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
Deadline November 15
Fellowships of $30,000 will be awarded for 12 months of full-time dissertation writing to encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences, and particularly to help Ph.D. candidates in these fields complete their dissertation work in a timely manner. Eligibility: PhD candidates are who writing on topics where ethical or religious values are a central concern, and who expect to complete the dissertation between April 1 and August 31, 2023
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program
Deadline: November 14
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) institutes provide fully-funded group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for 7-10 weeks for U.S. citizen undergraduate, Master ’s and Ph.D. students. Countries may include: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Russia, South Korea, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, or others where the target languages are spoken. Apply in November for a fellowship the following summer.
GEM Fellowship
Deadline: November 15
The National GEM Consortium fellowship programs prepare technical leaders for advanced careers in industry, academia, and government agencies by identifying and selecting highly qualified students to complete a program of STEM graduate study and industry internships. GEM supports underrepresented students in pursuing MS and Ph.D. degrees in engineering and the natural and physical sciences through a program of paid summer internships and graduate financial assistance.
Penn Postdoctoral Fellowships for Academic Diversity
Deadline: November 16
The Postdoctoral Fellowship for Academic Diversity Program is a competitive program with a goal of increasing the diversity of the community of scholars devoted to academic research at both the University of Pennsylvania and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Both organizations seek to attract promising researchers and educators from different backgrounds, races, ethnic groups, and other diverse populations whose life experience, research experience and employment background will contribute significantly to their academic missions. Fellowships are available for postdoctoral training in all areas of study at either Penn or CHOP. Fellows receive a generous annual stipend, travel and research allowances, relocation allowance, and benefits. Fellows will also receive highly mentored scholarly and research training, as well as courses and workshops to enhance their research success skills.
Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund Fellowship
Deadline: November 20
Full tuition plus a stipend of $18,000 for up to three years. U.S. citizens pursuing a graduate degree in any recognized field of study in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences are eligible. The terms require that the Fellow conduct studies entirely within the USA and prove financial need. For more details and application requirements, visit https://www.curf.upenn.edu/content/liebmann-fellowship.
DOD Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program
Deadline: December 1
The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing a graduate or doctoral degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines and conducting research relevant to the U.S. Department of Defense. Includes full tuition, annual stipend of up to $38K, and other benefits. Awardees are matched with a DoD research laboratory where they will be expected to serve as a summer intern and complete a period of post-graduation employment service as a civilian.
Ford Foundation Graduate Fellowships
Deadlines: December 8 (dissertation & postdoctoral); December 15 (predoctoral)
Predoctoral and dissertation awards to students who plan to pursue careers in teaching and research at the college or university level and demonstrate a commitment to using diversity to enrich the education of all students.
Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity
Deadline: December 15
Supports seniors and graduate students in the physical sciences and related engineering fields, for 2-6 years. Awards include $20,000 stipend; tuition & fees; paid summer government internships & mentoring.
Ongoing Opportunities or Rolling Deadlines
Campaign for Community
Deadline: rolling
The Campaign for Community aims to strengthen our Penn community by finding ways to discuss and understand key issues that may appear to be difficult or intractable. The program provides grants of up to $1500 for projects and activities that help advance the Campaign's goals of encouraging mutual understanding, respect, and discussion among members of the community on important topics. Learn more at https://provost.upenn.edu/campaign-community.
Dirksen Congressional Center Congressional Research Grants
Deadline: rolling
Eligibility: Students with a serious interest in studying Congress; a significant portion of the funds is awarded for PhD dissertation research
Data Incubator Data Science Fellowship
Deadlines: Multiple sessions each year, deadlines vary.
An advanced 8-week fellowship for PhDs looking to enter industry. Free for admitted Fellows. Participate either in person in New York City, Washington, DC, the San Francisco Bay Area, or online.
